Black screen every Thursday, PC quit sleeping this past week.

MamaBear · 29 Dec 2016

I'm running an Asus Essentio Desktop with 8GB, that I free-upgraded in July, from Win 7 to 10. Ever since, there have been all kinds of problems ( see my other threads - haven't been solved ) This is my personal PC and I use it for my home business, which is crucial to earning a living.

I'm getting a black screen lock up at least once a week, and especially on Thursdays ( just restarted from one ), apparently after Windows 10 does the non-consensual updates that we have no control over. I come in and the screen is black, and moving the mouse or hitting the power button on the case have no effect. I have to shut off the UPS power, then turn it back on and start the PC again. If it hasn't finished an update, then it does, or sometimes it just restarts normally.

Some of the problems have apparently been caused by video drivers or my USB wireless adapter, which companies consider "end of life" and won't update for Windows 10. SO do I need to throw my PC away now, because this just goes on and on and Microsoft apparently created a new OS that won't work with old drivers and no one will update them?

I don't know what to do anymore. I'm disgusted. Help?

Caledon Ken · 29 Dec 2016

Yikes. Sorry to hear you are having such a go of it. I run Windows 10 on devices that were built for XP however I think the trick is to stop Windows from updating the drivers past the point where they worked. I experimented a bit and found working drivers that I keep in my download folder and if something gets updated in a major release like the Anniversary update I pull them out and execute.

If you are wireless then you can also stop all updates by telling windows you are on a metered connection. I believe its the drivers.

If you want you can shut off the driver updates as well. Here is the process and you can undo just as easily.

Right click on Windows Start
Click on Control Panel
Click on System and Security
Click on System
Click on Advance system settings
Click on Hardware tab
Click on Device Installation Settings
Click on No
A menu appears (first time) click Never Install driver software.
You may get a warning. Click the option that says I’ll take care of it (not exact words)

Then I would suggest "Rolling Back" your drivers especially for your USB wireless. I'm chasing another machine that won't sleep and read about devices being the culprit. Before I threw my PC away I would investigate a newer wirelesss unit.

First things first, lets find a video driver that works and a USB wireless adapter. Not sure of everyone's comfort or skill level doing this, I will assume you know how to roll back drivers as this experience has forced you to learn. If not post back and we will get you instructions.

Is there a model number for your Essentio?

MamaBear · 29 Dec 2016

Speaking of sleep, this PC just quit going into sleep mode in the last 2 weeks, after updates. I've checked pwrcfg -requests, and the settings, and nothing is shown as stopping it.

Oh, the model is: ASUS CG5270-BP004 MOTHERBOARD E4576_P5QL-VM EPU

Caledon Ken · 30 Dec 2016

Thanks. I will look up. If this block of trouble started two weeks ago could you please invoke a system restore to a point around Dec 6th. This gets you further back than December 13th. The second Tuesday of each month updates are released. Critical one are released as required.

Once restored please disconnect from Internet until you have looged in and disabled the driver updates following the process in my first post.

Then reconnect and you can initiate the Windows updates. This should just be windows as you will have disabled drivers.

Let us know how it went. I'll have a look at your machine at Asus.

MamaBear · 31 Dec 2016

I've never done a system restore. Will it destroy any work I've done, like documents?

Caledon Ken · 01 Jan 2017

No. It sets the registry back. Personal documents are not changed. That said if you recently installed a program you will have to re-install.

I know you are taking backups of your data, correct? External 1TB drives are cheaper than a even a small data lost, make it a business expense.

You should also be using a product like Macrium Reflect to capture images.

Read my signature, it is 100% true.

MamaBear · 01 Jan 2017

I have Carbonite. I also have a spare drive, but rarely remember to clone it. Been using Acronis, but people here have suggested that Macrium.

But there are two issues above, that I think are separate. The black screen unresponsive issue, is since July 26th when I upgraded from 7 to 10.

And the lack of sleep issue just started happening like 2 weeks ago, after an update. It's reached the point now, where I come in here and find the screen on, with the screen saver image, at any hour of day or night, after the screen shut off after 10 minutes when I left, but it comes back on again.

Part of my problem is being swamped with work all the time, and not having the time to understand this in depth.

Caledon Ken · 01 Jan 2017

When you walk in and find your computer on, enter a command prompt(admin) and type powercfg /lastwake

This will tell you what gremlin in your computer issue the wake up order. Note the pattern and post.

MamaBear · 02 Jan 2017

Caledon Ken · 02 Jan 2017

I googled that specific device and did not get results. You said you had had a old USB Wireless adapter. Please find it in your device manager, left click once on it, then right click, then properties, Power management tab. Uncheck everything.

While you diagnose which device is awaking computer it may be an idea to have only essential, like mouse and keyboard, connected. So disconnect scanner, printer, label maker etc. Just leave mouse, keyboard and wireless dongle (with settings changed). Then you can test keyboard and mouse, one at a time, by shutting off their ability to wake up computer.